Improving the multiplayer experience

[awake]

I propose several changes to improve the multiplayer experience.

Field views
There should be 2 types of views. I can't think of any good names to
distinguish them so I will refer to them as A and B for now. The
number of fields displayed should be dynamic depending on the number
of players that are currently in the game.

Here is a sketch of what I had in mind - http://i52.tinypic.com/6nwo6b.jpg

Type A (left column)
This view is ideal for focusing on a single player.
It is the view a player sees in a match.
There is 1 main (large) field and the rest are small.
The main field shows hold and next pieces, the mini fields do not.
When spectating, clicking on a mini field will switch that field to
the main.

Type B (right column)
It is the ideal view for spectating 2/3/4P and also team battles.
Field sizes? Depends
Hold/next shown? Depends

Other details
Type A and B are the same for 2P games. Or should they be different?
In which views will the stats box be viewable? (Type A 3/4/5/6P, Type
B 5/6)
Will there be a default view for certain types of games?
How will the views be switched (click or button)?
The horizontal white bars in Type B could be used as a win indicator
display. Currently, it displays combos, but the combo display should
be moved into the middle of the field in the future.

Togglable stats
This box should be togglaable with a button or perhaps a button.
Win indicators could also be togglable as they might be distracting.

[Someone2knoe]

This is a great idea. The left side is sort of how blockbox deals with
it, and the right side looks sweet as well when you want to get an
overall picture of everything (for streaming or something)

[xlro]

yes, I also like this design sketch alot and agree that mode B would
be perfect for streaming and worth implementing for that alone.

[Wojtek Kowaluk]

xrlo, well we already have 6p spectator view.

so many views may be little overdo, how about adding just 4P B (ps3
tetris style) view? personally i don't think tetrinet/blockbox view is
actually good for anything, those games have it just because they have
only one layout, but please discuss if you don't agree.

also have in mind that scaling current low res graphics to different
sizes (like on your 3P B-view and 4P B-view) may not look too great.
this is good idea, but i would rather like to see some improvements in
lobby/room gui first. :P

sorry for little off-topic but let's not forget about better score
display. win count near players frame or something like that. i
noticed toj don't display win stars when after you join room, and they
are send on results screen, so current nullpomino solution is
acceptable, just keep them displayed after game starts, and put them
in some more visible location.

[Wojtek Kowaluk]

of course i mean: "personally i don't think tetrinet/blockbox
SPECTATOR view ..."

[Someone2knoe]

I'm not really sure how the nullpo spectating works. When I watch a
1v1 sometimes it doesn't zoom in until the next round or something.

I really like the 3-6 player view (type B) that he mentioned. It works
out nicely for streaming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zZ3JZNc4KE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O3VUNr_AZE&feature=related

I agree with you that the BB view could be thrown out. You should be
able to clearly see every player for Type B. But if you could toggle
views I think it would have some use when you want to focus on a
certain player (for non-stream reasons).

[Wojtek Kowaluk]

yes, it dosn't zoom for 1on1 when you join why game is in progress

[Wojtek Kowaluk]

*while

[Someone2knoe]

It should though.